This document discusses the evolving roles of civil society organizations (CSOs) in development. It reviews how development has been conceptualized over time, from GDP growth to empowerment and rights. It also examines the changing players involved, including governments, NGOs, international agencies, and the private sector. The document argues that CSOs can effectively promote development by raising awareness, enabling voice, demonstrating solutions, and engaging with state institutions while building accountability. It also notes new opportunities for CSOs to reinterpret contexts through democratic lenses, form global alliances, and reconnect with local resources.

1. What are CSOs AllWhat are CSOs All
About Today?About Today?
Dr. Rajesh Tandon, President, PRIA
42 Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110 062
Tel: +91-11-29960931/32/33; Fax: +91-11-29955183
Email: rajeshtandon@pria.org; Web: www.pria.org
September, 2010September, 2010
‘Re-searching’ Development
Effectiveness

2. Recalling the JourneyRecalling the Journey
• Development is GDP growthDevelopment is GDP growth
• Development is basic needsDevelopment is basic needs
• Development is empowermentDevelopment is empowerment
• Development is rights & entitlementsDevelopment is rights & entitlements
• Back to Global Growth?Back to Global Growth?

3. Revisiting the PlayersRevisiting the Players
• Governments with ODAGovernments with ODA
• NGOs (civil society after 1990s) withNGOs (civil society after 1990s) with
ODAODA
• International Agencies (the Bank!)International Agencies (the Bank!)
• Private sectorPrivate sector
• Back to State-led?Back to State-led?

4. Re-stating the principlesRe-stating the principles
• Endogenous prioritiesEndogenous priorities
• Citizen-led processesCitizen-led processes
• Democratic political institutionsDemocratic political institutions
• Accountable market mechanismsAccountable market mechanisms
• Basic needs, equity & justiceBasic needs, equity & justice

5. Intermediation by CSOsIntermediation by CSOs
• Raising AwarenessRaising Awareness
• Enabling VoiceEnabling Voice
• Demonstrating SolutionsDemonstrating Solutions
• Engaging with state institutionsEngaging with state institutions
• Building capacitiesBuilding capacities

6. CSO Effectiveness inCSO Effectiveness in
DevelopmentDevelopment
• Responsible IntermediationResponsible Intermediation
• Capable responseCapable response
• Accountable capabilitiesAccountable capabilities
• Multi-polar AccountabilityMulti-polar Accountability
• Globalising multi-polarityGlobalising multi-polarity

7. Beyond the Framework: ‘New’Beyond the Framework: ‘New’
Players?Players?
*missing voices from grassroots informal*missing voices from grassroots informal
citizen groups arising Awarenesscitizen groups arising Awareness
• hidden noises from the private sectorhidden noises from the private sector
• ignored assertions of non-OECD donorignored assertions of non-OECD donor
governmentsgovernments
• aspiring diasporas beyond remittancesaspiring diasporas beyond remittances
• shrill occupation by media, celebritiesshrill occupation by media, celebrities

8. Beyond the Framework: NewBeyond the Framework: New
Dilemmas?Dilemmas?
• Development and/or democracy?Development and/or democracy?
• Conflicts, disagreements and /orConflicts, disagreements and /or
violence?violence?
• Power Politics and/or power of politics?Power Politics and/or power of politics?
• State-led and/or citizen-centric?State-led and/or citizen-centric?
• Rights/entitlements and/or obligations toRights/entitlements and/or obligations to
society?society?

9. New Opportunities for CSONew Opportunities for CSO
EffectivenessEffectiveness
• Reinterpreting the context withReinterpreting the context with
democratic lensdemocratic lens
• Re-discovering ‘global’ alliances—Re-discovering ‘global’ alliances—
horizontal & verticalhorizontal & vertical
• Re-configuring indigenous models ofRe-configuring indigenous models of
governance and managementgovernance and management
• Re-connecting with local resourcesRe-connecting with local resources
• Re-imagining a ‘new’ world orderRe-imagining a ‘new’ world order

10. New Opportunities for CSONew Opportunities for CSO
EffectivenessEffectiveness
• Reinterpreting the context withReinterpreting the context with
democratic lensdemocratic lens
• Re-discovering ‘global’ alliances—Re-discovering ‘global’ alliances—
horizontal & verticalhorizontal & vertical
• Re-configuring indigenous models ofRe-configuring indigenous models of
governance and managementgovernance and management
• Re-connecting with local resourcesRe-connecting with local resources
• Re-imagining a ‘new’ world orderRe-imagining a ‘new’ world order